THE EFFECT OF EPINEPHRIN ON THE BLOOD LIPOIDS OF NORMAL MAN

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Abstract
Subcut. inj. of 0.5-1.0 cc of a solution of epinephrin (1/1000) in 11 normal subjects and 5 patients in amts. sufficient to increase the blood sugar and blood pressure, produced in the subsequent 2 hrs., a moderate, consistent elevation in the level of serum fatty acids. In 9 of the subjects the total fatty acids were increased by as much as 1-2.3 milliequivalents and in 5 the cholesterol increased 10-19 mgs.%. These values were corrected for changes in the concn. of the serum. Hemoconcentration, as measured by total proteins of the serum, occurred in 9 subjects; 5 showed hemodilution. The importance of this factor in changing the apparent level of serum lipids is discussed. The variability of the responses of the different normal subjects to epinephrin was too great to warrant the use of this drug as a test of physiological function in patients. No evidence was obtained from these expts. to suggest that epinephrin might play an important part in determining the level of blood lipids.